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Strategic Business Development & Entrepreneurship (SBD&E)

Major Description:

The Strategic Business Development and Entrepreneurship (SBD&E) Major examines how business opportunities are identified and exploited for society through existing and new organizations. Students will learn to generate and evaluate ideas, develop those ideas into products and services, assemble resources, mitigate risks, and lead organizations that meet human needs. The SBD&E degree prepares students to work within existing organizations as well as to create new organizations, both for-profit and not-for-profit.

An Entrepreneur is someone with the extraverted, observant, thinking, and prospecting personality traits. They tend to be energetic and action-oriented, deftly resolving business problems.

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COB1
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Degree Requirements
COB2
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ICT Requirements
COB4
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Courses That Introduce the Major

Pre-College of Business Coursework

  • Composition I requirement (Can be met through RHET 105, CMN 111/112, ESL 111/112, ESL 115, or 32+ for English ACT or 690+ for English SAT)
  • ECON 102—Microeconomics Principles (Can also be met through ACE 100—Agri Cons and Resource Econ)
  • ECON 103—Macroeconomics Principles
  • MATH 234—Calculus for Business or STAT 100 - Statistics

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities:

The SBD&E is a very new major. There are no Gies College SBD&E alumni.

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SBD&E develops three common career skills- analytical and critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative team building.

  • Small Business Owners
  • Business Consultants
  • Business Reporters
  • Fundraisers and Development Officers
  • Sales Managers
  • New Venture Developers
  • College Teaching/Faculty
Enhancing Your Academic Experience:
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • Illinois Business Consulting (IBC)
    • iVenture Accelerator
    • EntreCORPS
    • Chinese Entrepreneurship Association
    • BOLD - Women in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
    • Illinois Entrepreneurship Group
    • Founders - Illinois Entrepreneurs
    • Pavilion
    • Sigma Eta Pi- Co-ed Entrepreneurship Fraternity
    • Zero2One
    • Black Entrepreneurs & Technology (BET)
    • Entrepreneurs Without Borders
    • Enactus
Further Information:

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Strategic Business Development and Entrepreneurship (SBD&E).  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of SBD&E.  These organizations include: